There’s something distinctly American about the notion of a crock pot, but we’re all for bringing the trendy kitchen appliance into rightful popularity within the UK.
According to the Smithsonian Institute’s brief history of the crock pot, the cult favourite kitchen appliance’s origins lie rather surprisingly in 19th century Vilna, a small Jewish neighbourhood within the Lithuanian city of Vilnius, once referred to as the “Jerusalem of the North.”
When preparing for the Sabbath, local Jewish families would prepare various stews on Fridays before nightfall with the intention of enjoying them on the following Saturday. These vegetable-packed stews would slowly cook on low heats, gradually building rich and aromatic flavours overnight. It was, and continues to be, a brilliant Kosher means of cooking delicious meals without breaking the laws of Shabbat. The resulting stew is known as cholent.
Building on this tradition, it was Irving Nachumsohn who took to creating a dedicated kitchen appliance to help in this pre-Shabbat endeavour. Though the famed Jewish inventor (known also for creating electric frying pans and the first iteration of the lava lamp) filed his slow cooker patent back in 1936, it would eventually hit the market in the 1950s.
After selling his company to Kansas City’s Rival Manufacturing in 1970, Rival rebranded Nachumsohn’s slow cooker and launched the contemporary ‘Crock-Pot’ in 1971. Et voila, a star is born.
The humble crock pot also took centre stage in a recent episode of The Bear. Season 3 Episode 6 entitled “Napkins” showed protagonist Tina popping an array of ingredients into her crock pot to save time and money before heading off to work (prior to becoming a chef at the fictional, eponymous restaurant). Every evening, without fail, her husband would lift the lid of the pot to enjoy the swirling aromas of slow-cooked deliciousness – whatever the dish in question may have been.
What can a crock pot be used for?
- Soups and stews
- Braised meat and tender chicken dishes
- Curries and daals
- Rice and grains
Whether you’ve just purchased a crock pot or are a veritable slow-cooking pro, we’ve curated a selection of dedicated crock pot cookbooks to help you along your journey. Keep scrolling to discover new and exciting slow-cooked recipes.
Martha Stewart's Slow Cooker
It should come as no surprise that the queen of cosy, American home cooking has her very own slow cooker cookbook. Our favourite part about this 110 recipe-strong cookbook is the fact that it comes with 110 photos to match. The slow-cooked, full-proof recipes are split into eight main sections including meat, poultry, seafood, meatless, side dishes, breakfast, sweets, as well as stocks and sauces.
Buy now £17.77, Amazon
Bored of Lunch: The Healthy Slow Cooker Book by Nathan Anthony
Nathan Anthony’s Bored of Lunch series is a modern classic. The beloved home cook has adapted his best-selling Bored of Lunch air fryer recipes to suit slow-cooking enthusiasts keen to transform their diet to become healthier, speedier and far more affordable. Our favourite section is the guide to creating mouth-watering ‘Fakeaways’ at home with the help of a crock pot.
Buy now £9.49, Amazon
The Mediterranean Slow Cooker Cookbook
A Mediterranean-style diet is preferred by health-conscious eaters for a myriad of reasons, namely its links to longevity and quality of life. Make switching to the coastal diet easier than ever by preparing delicious meals in a slow cooker with the help of this brilliant cookbook by Salinas Press. It includes 101 robust and healthy recipes such as Turkish Stuffed Eggplant, Garlic Tilapia, and Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding as well as 14 handy tips for using a slow cooker to its highest potential.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
The Ultimate Mini Crock Pot Cookbook for Beginners
This bustling, easy recipe-filled cookbook does exactly what it says on the tin. Updated for 2024, it includes a variety of surprisingly healthy recipes crafted for those with busy lifestyles. Ideal for smaller households, you’ll be able to follow recipes tailored for one, two, singles, and college students.
Buy now £9.44, Waterstones
Crock Pot: 1001 Best Crock Pot Recipes of All Time by Emma Katie
If it’s quantity you want, it’s quantity you’ll get with Emma Katies’ 1001 Best Crock Pot Recipes of All Time. Free from any sneaky recipes which instruct home chefs to first fry, blanche or boil ingredients on the stove, this recipe book is filled to the brim with truly straightforward recipes. You’ll be able to explore everything from appetizers and rich, nutritious main dishes to sweet desserts and even beverages.
Buy now £11.95, Amazon
Slow Cooker Recipe Book UK: 100 Fix & Forget, Easy, Healthy Crock Pot Cookbook Meal by Sophia Hobb
Chop, slice and dice your way into well-seasoned, slow-cooked heaven with the help of Sophia Hobb’s Fix and forget cookbook. It includes 100 fuss-free recipes such as classic casseroles, risottos, family favourite stews, curries, pot roasts, lunch, dinners, sides and more. Considering how Americanised crock pots have become, we’re delighted that the measurements in this cookbook are all UK-friendly.
Buy now £6.99, Amazon
Slow Cooker Central Family Favourites by Paulene Christie
Family-friendly and Australian-made, this recipe book by Paulene Christie is a great option for beginners looking to feed growing families on a budget. The first few pages are filled with brilliant tips and tricks for using and maintaining your slow cooker, as well as handy stock recipes to keep on hand for even speedier future meal prep.
Buy now £12.97, Amazon
Modern Slow Cooker: 85 Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes to Make your Life Easy by Alyce Alexandra
Alyce Alexandra answers all your vegetarian, slow-cooked prayers in Modern Slower Cooker, which includes an impressive 85 different delicious and nutritious recipes which make use of healthy and cost-effective ingredients such as veggies, grains, pulses and legumes. A fan favourite among Alexandra’s following is the deluxe caramelised banana breakfast pudding.
Buy now £16.33, Amazon
